Why is TSN so challenging even for native Hebrew Speakers?
Imagine you had to read a section of text from an unnumbered book, without headings, out loud and in public. And, sometimes, when you stood in front of the group, the book was in an unknown location. All eyes are on you.
Torah Scrolls do not have Column Numbers
Existing Indexing Methods - NOT helpful at the Torah Scroll:
- Book / Chapter / Verse (only helpful for Hebrew Bible, and Chumash)
- Sefer / Parashah / Aliyah (only helpful for Chumash, and Tikkun Korim)
So, how is TSN possible at all? By using the formatting of the text itself, along with being familiar with specific text in specific sections (such as the beginning text of each Sefer, or of a specific Parashah or Aliyah). Experienced Torah Readers do this instinctively.
This website offers repeatable and systematic approaches that make TSN possible to students from diverse backgrounds, serving as training wheels as instinctive capabilities grow over time. Scenarios are based on using the Tikkun Korim Hamefoar (A. Walzer), and the Annual Reading Cycle.
Each ALIYAH has Unique Characteristics – Beginning Text, type of Preceding Space, preceding Text
Each ALIYAH has a specific Adress, within a specific Torah Scroll or Tikkun – Column #, Line # (where it begins)
Over time, you can fine-tune and add to the approaches presented here, creating resources and even Apps that make TSN easier for yourself, your students, and your community.
TSN based on the “Torah Scroll Column Locator Handbook" Scroll Layout: 245 Columns / 42 Lines
Reference Tables provide students with the Unique Characteristics of each Aliyah. Reference Tables are downloadable from this website. Students practice with a Tikkun Korim.
FIRST – LOCATE THE COLUMN CONTAINING YOUR ALIYAH
- Locate information for your Sefer/Parashah/Aliyah (ex: Sefer Bereshit / Parashat No’ach / Cohen Aliyah)
- Identify the Address for your Aliyah (ex: Column # 6, Line # 32)
- Roll to the designated Anchor Column (ex: Beginning of Sefer Bereshit – Column # 1 ), then
- Roll the designated number of Columns in the designated direction (ex: Roll LEFT 5 Columns)
NEXT – LOCATE THE BEGINNING TEXT FOR YOUR ALIYAH WITHIN ITS COLUMN
- Identify your Aliyah’s Unique Characteristics
(ex: Beginning Text אלה תולדות נח ; Type of Preceding Space – Open; Preceding Words - ונח מצא חן בעיני יי ) - Search within your Aliyah’s Column – in this example begin looking around Line # 32 for an Open Space, see if the text that follows matches your Beginning Text – when you have a Match you are in the right place. Verify preceding words.
- Begin reading your Aliyah
TSN based on the “Torah Scroll Column Reference Guide” Scroll Layout: 245 Columns / 42 Lines
Recovering from Unknown Columns
This book introduces a New Index to the Torah Scroll text, using Beginning Words on Line 1 of each Column. Students practice with a Tikkun Korim.
“Where am I?” Section - Current Column # is now easily identified.
- Line 1 from each of 245 Columns of the Torah Scroll is sorted alphabetically.
- Standing before an Unknown Column, the student reads Line 1 beginning words
- Student locates those words in the Reference Guide (like using in a dictionary)
“Where is my Parashah?” Section – Identifies Column # for each Aliyah
- Student calculates the number of columns to roll, and in which direction.
Current Column # minus Desired Column # equals number of Columns to Roll/Turn in the Tikkun.
When the result is a Negative Number, then Roll LEFT
When the result is a Positive Number, then Roll RIGHT
Scenarios are based on the Annual Reading Cycle
Annual Reading Cycle
Entire Torah read in one year
Modern Triennial Reading Cycle
Entire Torah read in one year
Year 1 - First 3rd each Parashah
Year 2 - Second 3rd each Parashah
Year 3 - Third 3rd each Parashah
ANNUAL READING CYCLE – Used in Orthodox Jewish communities worldwide, and in Israel. Each Parashah is read in sequence and in its entirety each year.
MODERN TRIENNIAL READING CYCLE – Followed in many Conservative and Reform diaspora synagogues. One third of each Parashah is read weekly. The entire text of the Torah Scroll is read publicly over the period of three years.
How many Columns are there in my Torah Scroll?
Generally:
51 Lines per Column ➔ 226 Columns
42 Lines per Column ➔ 245 or 248 Columns
When you know the # of Columns in your Torah scroll, you can estimate which Column an Aliyah likely begins in
Note – Older European Torah Scrolls have varying numbers of lines per column
Customizing Reference Tables to a Specific Torah Scroll
Each Aliyah has unchanging Unique Attributes
Beginning Text, Type of Preceding Space, Preceding Text
Each Aliyah has an Address within a specific Torah Scroll and Tikkun regarding where it begins
Sefer Bereshit / Parashat Bereshit / Cohen Aliyah, the Address is: Column # 1, Line # 1
If you have a Torah Scroll with an unusual number of Lines per Column, or you want Reference Tables that are 100% specific to your Scroll, you can Customize the Reference Tables.
If you have photographic images of each Column – use them to confirm the Address of each Aliyah – and update the Column # and Line # in the Reference Tables. No changes to the Unique Attributes.
Suggestion – Begin with the Cohen Aliyah for each Parashah and then update each remaining Aliyah.